preposition

(also near by) close to

near cut noun (old)

A short cut

near-death experience noun

An experience or sensation, when seemingly on the point of death, of being outside one's own body as an external observer of oneself

near-earth object noun

A large celestial object, such as an asteroid, whose orbit may possibly bring it into collision with the earth (abbrev NEO)

Near East noun

1. Formerly, an area including the Balkans and Turkey, and sometimes also the countries to the west of Iran
2. Now synonymous with Middle East (see under middle)

near gale noun (meteorology)

A wind of force 7 on the Beaufort scale, reaching speeds of 32 to 38mph

near-gaun see near-begaun above.

nearˈ-hand adjective (Scot)

Near

adverb

Nearly

nearˈ-legged adjective (Shakespeare)

(of horses) walking so that the legs interfere

nearly man noun (informal)

One who narrowly fails to achieve expected success

near miss noun (lit and figurative)

1. A miss that is almost a hit
2. A narrowly avoided collision

near point noun

The nearest point the eye can focus

nearˈside noun

1. The side of a vehicle nearer to the kerb eg when it is being driven, in Britain the left side
2. The left side of a horse or other animal, or of a team of horses

adjective

On the nearside

near-sightˈed adjective

Short-sighted

near-sightˈedly adverb

near-sightˈedness noun

a near thing

A narrow escape

near as a touch, as ninepence or as dammit (informal)

Very nearly

nearest and dearest

One's closest family and friends